Towards Zero-Waste Campus: Perception of the Community in UTHM Pagoh Campus on Solid Waste Management System

Abstract The solid waste crisis has become one of the contributors to environmental issues such as climate change, environmental pollution and loss of rainforest. The contribution of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in achieving sustainable development and society is undeniable. With the ethical and moral obligations to act responsibly towards the environment, they tend to become leaders in the movement for environmental protection. As a new branch of the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM) campus, the UTHM Pagoh Campus aims to become one of the green campuses at Pagoh Educational Hub. A well-managed Solid Waste Management (SWM) can provide a number of benefits, such as reduction in waste disposal cost as well as creating awareness among the campus community. In this study, interviews were carried out with the stakeholders to obtain in-depth information regarding SWM on campus. From the interviews, it was found that the main challenges faced in implementing SWM on campus are: low awareness among the community; lack of policy and guidelines on SWM; and insufficient facilities. To overcome these challenges, the “Zero Waste Campus” (ZWC) initiative is proposed to be implemented on campus in order to reduce the waste stream. The ZWC covers several aspects of the campus’s SWM, such as policy development and facility improvement.